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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Telescope Control System Bridge

Large bridge command center from JJ Abrams Star Trek film
TELESCOPE CONTROL SYSTEMS BRIDGE
Examples for the Power Dynamic Telescope
We're designing and building a telescope command and control center, and examining bridge console command systems from various sources for ideas. 

FIRST SOURCE
Telescope Control System Wrap Around

WHERE TO FIND BRIDGE EXAMPLES
The best examples of bridge control systems are found at the NASA command centers and various versions of Star Trek ships and vessels. These are larger control centers that take up more space, often occupying a room or a section of a wall. Operations may have designs for standing or seated occupancy.


JJ Abrams design
Floor to ceiling Vertical Bridge controls
VERTICAL PANELS
Vertical control panels are also popular. These displays are also adapted to virtual instruments with pieced together large touch screens. They often run floor to ceiling to take advantage of space.

NASA
NASA space station support operations
One example of a table and room command center is at NASA. The photo shows the NASA Flight Control System for the ISS International Space Station in 2006. It includes a series of tables, each with a computer control console for seated operations.

STAR SHIPS
Star ships, such as the Enterprise on Star Trek and many ship variations, have very well thought out and designed instrumentation control and command centers. Many of these bridges are designed for team operations and have multiple work stations. Some examples are for a science center, navigation, weapons console, stellar cartography, and sensors.

ADAPTABILITY
KELVIN Bridge (Star Trek)
These systems are very adaptable. For example, they include desk consoles for one or more work stations, vertical control panels for standing operations, and long strip control panels fit to walls in halls. Any of these may be telescope adapted, depending on the level of complexity and available space.

TOYS
Another place to look for various bridge designs is with toys. These often have compressed space
Bridge graphic
bridge designs which are especially useful when designing a command and control console with limited space in a small room.


GRAPHICS
Hallway control - Galaxy class Starship
There are many great visionaries drawing the graphics for space cartoons, space games, comic books and these hold fantastic designs. These are great sources for instrumentation control center designs and ideas.

EXTENDED RESOURCES
Also check other Star Trek movies, TV series, NASA sources for Skylab, Space Station, various Enterprise designs, science fiction, comics, toys, artwork, games, and galleries.

LINKS
Star Trek Blueprints
http://www.cygnus-x1.net/links/lcars/uss-enterprise-bridge.php

Federation Bridges
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fadmvulcan/sets/72157604354548317/detail/

Hi Res Control Panel & Bridge Images
http://www.gadgetreview.com/2013/04/hi-rez-pics-of-jj-abrams-star-trek-bridge.html